Kentucky to Seattle need ideas

ty1295 · #1 10-26-2016, 06:18 AM

Next year I am in the planning stages of making a flight from Kentucky to Seattle. I have lived here in Ky since 2000, but grew up in Seattle and in the past 16 years driven this route more than once.

Planning for ~3 days each way. I have some ideas, but would like to hear what others would plan, places to fly over to/from, etc.

Maybe Vlad would be a good one to help.

WileEcoyote75 · #2 10-26-2016, 07:42 AM

I flew this route three years ago from Independence, OR.

7S5, KLWS, KLWT, KABR, KLNR

f1rocket · #3 10-26-2016, 09:14 AM

There are many ways. If you want to stay low, I'd go to Cheyenne, up through central Wyoming to Pocatello Idaho, through central Idaho to Boise, then angle up to pick up the Columbia river to Portland, then up the coast.

HackerF15E · #4 10-26-2016, 09:29 AM

Which way have you driven? I'd say, choose a route that doesn't cover the same area you've gone before.

Ergo, if you've gone the I-40 route across the center/southwest, then go a northern route up through the Dakotas/Wyoming/Idaho.

If you've driven the north route, then go south across OK/NM/AZ, then fly up CA and OR.

If it were me, I'd chart all the air museums I haven't been to and stop/overnight at places that fit your route/endurance. Something like the SAC Museum in Omaha followed by the Warhawk Air Museum up near Boise.

ty1295 · #5 10-26-2016, 10:32 AM

I've driven the US fairly extensively. I-90 north route, I40, and down through Denver all more than once.

Nice thing about our hobby is "where we are going we don't need roads".

I like the Columbia river idea, St Helens is one of my ideas floating and that plays into that.

Raymo · #6 10-26-2016, 12:45 PM

Reminds me of the last XC I went on prior to getting out of the Army in 1990.

We flew three Blackhawks from Savannah, GA > New Orleans > mid-Texas > Waco > March AFB > up the coast to the San Fran naval yard (since closed) > under the Golden Gate Bridge > over Alcatraz > up the coast to Seattle. Had dinner and a good Bourbon in the Space Needle.

Return route was over Mt St. Helen > Reno > (don't recall the rest but mostly direct).

Took about 2 weeks. I was a lowly crew chief so had lots of time to snap pictures.

ty1295 · #7 10-26-2016, 01:45 PM

I like the sound of that, although not sure how well they would like the under the bridge part of things.

rockwoodrv9 · #8 10-26-2016, 02:33 PM

Jeff, if you are around the Caldwell area, let me know. I keep a car at the airport if needed. Have fun on your trip. Check with DarinA . He just flew in from Seattle area on Sunday to show me his plane and cowl. He knows the route.

koupster · #9 10-26-2016, 02:47 PM

Billings (BIL) is just about on a direct (Great Circle) route from Lexington (LEX) to SEA. From there, you can follow major highways through the Rockies to Mullan Pass (MLP). After that the elevations drop off rapidly.

The southern Wyoming route works as well for avoiding hostile terrain.

Cheers, David
RV-6A KBTF

snopercod · #10 10-26-2016, 06:55 PM

There's some real desolate country out there. I took these videos one year ago from 12,500'. Even at that altitude, radar coverage wasn't continuous. Y'all be careful now

Following I-80 for this leg:
Laramie to Salt Lake City via the Oregon Trail

No airports, no roads, no towns for this leg. I did a lot of praying:
Twin Falls to Medford Oregon